SECT. 4. An objection of Du Moulins touching the motion of the Polar Starre answered.

ANd thus I hope the Heauens are sufficiently discharged from a∣ny imputation of Decay in regard of their motion, the constant regularity whereof, we finde to haue beene obserued and admi∣red by the most learned of all ages: It remaines now that I should pro∣ceede to the examination of the other qualities thereof, which before I attempt, it shall not be amisse to remoue a rub cast in our way by Du Moulin a famous French Divine, in his Booke intituled, The accomplish∣ment of Divine Prophesies, touching the motion of the Polar starre, his * words are these, or to this purpose. Astrologie also doth lend vs some light in this matter; For in the yeare of the World three thousand six hundred sixty fiue, Ptolomaeus Philadelphus raigning in Egypt some foure hundred sixty nine yeares after the building of Rome, there lived one Hipparchus a famous Astrologer, who reports that in his time the starre commonly called the Polar starre, which is in the taile of the lesser Beare, was 12 degrees & two fifths di∣stant from the Pole of the Aequator. This star from age to age hath insensibly still crept neerer to the Pole, so that at this present it is not past three degrees di∣stant from the Pole of the Aequator. When this star then shall come to touch the Pole, there being no farther space left for it to goe forward) which may well enough come to passe within fiue or six hundredth yeares) it is likely that then there shall be a great change of things, and that this time is the period which God hath presixed to Nature. A bold coniecture of a man so well versed in holy Scriptures and in other matters so modest; as if God had written in the Heavens the period of times, or had so written it as any mortall eye could discerne it, his beloued Son professing, that it is not for vs to know*the times and seasons, which the Father hath put in his owne power. And as the Conjecture is bold, so is it built vpon as sandy a foundation which is, that the Pole-star shall draw so neere the Pole as to touch it, or shall euer be brought to those straits, as it shall finde no passage to goe forward, whereas it is certaine, it shall euer remaine in some certaine distance from the Pole, twenty sixe or twenty seuen minutes at the least. True in∣deed it is, that about fiue hundred yeares hence, if the World last so long, it shall then approach the nearest, but then shall it with-draw it selfe again by degrees to as remote a distance as it euer was before; As it heretofore hath beene the most Southerly star in that Asterisme, and is now become the most Northerly: so in processe of time it may become the most Southerly againe: But from hence to inferre that the Poles of the Aequator are moueable, is inconsequent, and incompatible with the most receiued and best approued grounds of Astronomy. Besides, other fixed stars haue their times of accesse and recesse, to and frōthe Pole, aswell as this: so that the motion of this can no more point out the period of Nature, then of those: All which Du Moulin himselfe either by his owne observation or advertisement from others well perceiuing, in a Page  86latter Edition of that booke printed at Sedane in the yeare one thousand six hundred thenty one, hath well mended the matter, by changing some words. For insteed of this in the first edition; From hence it appea∣reth that the Poles of the Equatour are moueable, in the second, he hath thus changed it: It being certaine, and observed by long experience, that the fixed stars moue from the West to the East in a motion paralell to the Eclyptique. In his first edition, he sayes: When this starre shall come to touch the Pole, there beeing no further space left for it to goe forward, but in his second hee changeth it thus, when this starre shall approach the Pole as neere as it can: Againe in his first thus, which may well come to passe within these fiue or six hundred yeares, in his second thus, which may well come to passe within siue hundred yeares: Lastly in his first thus, it seemes that this time is the period which God hath prefixed to Nature, in his second thus, it seemes that some no∣table period shall then expire. And surely I cannot but as much commend his modesty in this second change, as I found it wanting in his first conie∣cture, and I am of opinion that S. Augustine never purchased more true honour by any booke that ever hee writ, then that of his Retractations, the shame is not so much to erre, as to persevere in it being discouered. Specially if it be an errour taken vp & entertained, by following those, whom for their great gifts wee highly esteeme and admire, as it seemes Du Moulin tooke his errour at leastwise touching the moueablenes of the Poles of the Equatour, from Ioseph Scaliger: But the motion of the heavens puts mee in minde of passing from it to the light thereof.